“You’re my first,” Lachlan said, but there was a hint of something else in those words. Something that took hold of her heart and stole her breath. The edge of a memory just out of her reach. Someone had said that to her in the past.
Britt, you’re my first … love.
She inhaled, trying to focus on the here and now. “I’m your first client? You’ve never been a bodyguard to anyone else?”
“Technically, you are Stingray Security’s first client. We’re still ramping up operations and plan to take on new clients in a month or so. But you needed us, and we’re ready,” Lachlan said, then held up a finger. “None of us are rookies. We’ve all had more than our fair share of situations where we protected people. You’re in good hands.”
“For some reason, I have full confidence in your abilities, Lachlan. I don’t think you’d let anyone get close enough to hurt me.”
“Never.”
Britt covered her mouth as a yawn ripped from her throat. She glanced at the clock. A minute past midnight.
Lachlan laughed under his breath. “Yawning on cue. Never could stay up past midnight.”
Chapter 18
“What?” Britt asked, confused. “What do you mean?”
Lachlan looked away, fidgeting with a loose thread on his jeans. “With everything you’ve been through, I’m not surprised you’re exhausted since it’s after midnight. Probably been too long since you had a good night’s rest.”
She narrowed her eyes as she stared at that damn sexy smirk playing on his lips. He wasn’t meeting her eyes. She felt there was more to what he said, although his explanation made sense. “Too long, she admitted.”
“Why don’t you get changed for bed while I clean up this mess,” Lachlan said, lifting the napkin from her plate and shaking his head.
“Do not show that to any of the other guys. It’s so embarrassing.”
“There’s no one here but us,” Lachlan said, then added, “Your secret is safe with me.”
And she felt safe with him. Being alone with him. Having him all to herself. Oh, these traitorous thoughts were going to kill her long before the men hunting her down could.
She left him to change into the only pajamas she’d purchased when she arrived on the island. The rough cotton and childishflower designs left much to be desired, but it was all she had. Staring at herself in the mirror, she studied the face she didn’t recognize as she brushed her thick tresses into a low ponytail at the nape of her neck. Her hands traced the faint scars behind her ears and on her scalp.
Even if Lachlan found her attractive, it didn’t matter.
The face staring back at her wasn’t hers.
She suspected The Visitor had changed her face to look like Brittany Freeman’s. It would explain her scars. She wondered what she looked like before that. Would it have been a face that made Lachlan’s eyes light up as much as Brittany’s? Pushing the thoughts away, she tossed the brush into her bag and returned to the bedroom suite.
The living room area had been tidied up. Lachlan was giving the bed turn-down service, complete with a palm full of expensive foil-wrapped chocolates.
He turned and stared at her. The heat blazing in his gaze sent wetness pooling between her thighs. His mouth parted, and she wanted nothing more than to run to him and crash her lips against his. Kiss him like the craziness of her life didn’t exist, and they were just two people who could enjoy each other.
He patted the bed, beckoning her to get inside.
“Where will you be?” she asked, not budging from her spot.
“Wherever you want me to be,” Lachlan responded, his voice low and husky.
“What a dangerous response,” she said, shaking her finger at him.
His laugh was infectious. “I didn’t mean it to be.”
“That’s disappointing,” she teased.
There was that devastatingly sexy smile again. “I’ll not do anything to cross any lines, Britt.” He made the sign of a cross over his heart.
“It’s not you I’m worried about,” she admitted, taking a tentative step toward him.
